PEPS Unplugged

~ By Harry Hoffman, PEPS Executive Director

Spring is a time of change; flowers bloom, branches bud, daylight increases and the weather grows (relatively) milder. This spring, there will be two momentous events in my life: my first-born daughter will graduate from college and I will be leaving PEPS for new horizons. Each of these events brings with it many mixed emotions.

With graduation pending on May 31st, my daughter Bryana will soon be beyond my control for good as I lose whatever little leverage paying college tuition provided. I have high hopes for her; she’s interning for a Head Start program right now and called me the other day asking what I thought about the Peace Corps! My considerable pride is tempered only by my anxiety about what the future holds for her generation. I have to trust that the values I’ve shared (and hopefully modeled) will carry her through whatever challenges lay ahead.

The other event is perhaps even more personal. As you may have heard, I am leaving PEPS on April 3rd to assume the Executive Director position at the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County.  My time at PEPS, 27 months by the parental-counting methodology, has been a professional and personal joy. PEPS’ programs and the people it serves are truly special and I have been privileged to provide leadership in service of PEPS’ mission.

PEPS today is in a very promising place for a 26 year-old organization. PEPS’ Staff and Board are bright, skilled and engaged, PEPS’ funding mix is diversified and as stable as any these days, PEPS’ program offerings meet real needs in an effective way and most importantly, PEPS has the confidence and support of the volunteers, donors and community members who are critical to any nonprofit’s success.

I won’t give you a laundry list of my accomplishments while at PEPS; in truth everything positive that has happened since my arrival on the PEPS scene has been a collaborative effort.  If I must take credit for anything, it’s for making sure that lots of smart, caring people got the chance to share, test, combine and implement their ideas together for the benefit of parents and children in King and Snohomish counties. That’s legacy enough for me.

The PEPS Transition Committee is working diligently to find the next Executive Director, watch the PEPS website for updates.  I know each and every one of you values what PEPS has done for parents like us and what PEPS continues to do for over 1,500 new families each year. Do your part to sustain PEPS and we’ll be celebrating PEPS’ 50th anniversary together in 2033.

Thanks,

Harry Hoffman